Florida DOT awards four intermodal support grants

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has awarded more than $4.9 million to intermodal projects in the state. FDOT selected four projects to fund from a total of eight applications received in the FY 2012/2013 funding cycle.

The selected projects include Port Manatee Commerce Center, Keystone Intermodal Logistics Center Terminal, South Florida Logistics Center and Port of Panama City Intermodal Distribution Center. All four selected projects support and create a total of 1,213 direct and indirect jobs.

These grants are the first awarded from the Intermodal Logistics Center Infrastructure Support Program, which provides an annual allocation of $5 million with a 50 percent matching fund requirement from applicants.

The $39.9 million South Florida Logistics Center project will receive a $2.5 million grant. South Florida Logistics Services, a subsidiary of Florida East Coast Industries, Inc., is developing the center and requesting the transportation infrastructure funds for intermodal logistics center site access roads at Florida East Coast Railway's Hialeah Yard and 67th Ave., truck loading ramps and internal traffic circulation roads.

The $4.5 million Keystone Intermodal Logistics Center Terminal project will receive a $1.4 million grant. The Keystone Intermodal Logistics Center is requesting funding to construct 2,100 linear feet of new rail, an on-site intermodal bulk transloading facility to transfer bulk and break-bulk commodities between ship, rail and truck and will be transloading containers for express shipment via Jacksonville Port Authority.

The $1.9 million Port of Panama City Intermodal Distribution Center project will receive a $900,000 grant. The Port Panama City Port Authority is prepared to build access roads, lay-down area and 20 car rail intermodal cargo transfer facility with adequate setback to support transfer of bulk products between rail and truck.

FDOT Secretary Ananth Prasad said, "The Intermodal Logistics Center Infrastructure Support Program is an important part of the department's commitment to support freight growth in Florida. By enhancing our trade and logistics infrastructure we will create job opportunities and strengthen Florida's economy."

The 2014 funding cycle is now open. The department is accepting applications for the next $5 million annual allocation.